Wrapping machines



Dec. 13, 1966 J. H. A. s. LAGESSE 3,290,862

WRAFFLNG MACHINES Filed July 29, 1963 5' Sheets-Sheet 1 J /7./l. S. lagesse Dec. 13, 1966 J. H. A. s. LAGESSE 3,290,862

WRAPPING MACHINES Filed July 29, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet z Inventor J #34 5 [ayesse ttorneys Dec. 13, 1966 J. H. A. s. LAGESSE 3,290,862

WRAPPING MACHINES Filed July 29, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor JH 5. lagesse Attorneys United States Patent F 3,2%,862 WRAPPING MACHINES Joseph Henri Alfred Serge Lagesse, Wembley, England,

assignor to Tape Engineering Limited, London, England, a company of Great Britain Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,046 Claims. (Cl. 53228) This invention relates to a wrapping machine for enclosing a package in wrapping material, and is more particularly intended for the wrapping of a roll or other package having a generally cylindrical shape of any desired cross-section (for example circular or square or rectangular), whether consisting of a single article or of an assembly of articles (for example of disc-like or platelike form) collectively having such shape. It is usual for wrapping such a package, first to wrap the paper or other wrapping material around the peripheral surface of the package into the form of a tube of the appropriate sectional shape, which closely surrounds the package, the ends of the package being closed either by separate end caps or more usually by folding projecting ends of such tube against the ends of the package and applying a seal, for example an adhesive seal, at each end to secure such folded ends in place. In some instances it may sufiice to wrap only the peripheral surface of the package, leaving the ends'unwrapped.

The present invention is concerned with the wrapping of the wrapping material around the peripheral surface of the package, whether or not the ends are subsequently closed, and has for its primary object to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for effecting such peripheral wrapping. A further object of the invention, especially applicable when the packages to be wrapped are in the form of rolls of circular cross-section, is to provide a mechanism of this kind which will be readily adjustable to suit any size of roll within a predetermined wide range of slzes.

The wrapping machine according to the present invention includes in combination guide means defining a feed path along which the package to be wrapped can move to a wrapping position, a retractable head controlling the feeding of the wrapping material and having an advanced position and a withdrawn position, driving means for moving the retractable head from either of such positions to the other, means whereby the wrapping material is caused to extend from one side of the feed path to the other when the retractable head is in the withdrawn position, whereby the movement of the package into the wrapping position causes the wrapping material to be wrapped around a portion of its periphery, and means whereby when the package is in the wrapping position the driving means is caused to move the retractable head from its withdrawn position into its advanced position thereby wrapping the wrapping material around a further portion of the periphery of the package.

Preferably, the machine includes a supply reel from which a web of Wrapping material is drawn by movement of the retractable head from its withdrawn position to its advanced position, and a clamping device for gripping the free end of the web located on the side of the feed path remote from the withdrawn position of the retractable head. The machine preferably also includes means for releasing the clamping device when the package is in the wrapping position prior to the movement of the retractable head into the advanced position, means for wrapping the released free end portion of the web of wrapping material around a portion of the periphery of the package, a cutting device for severing the web of wrapping material after completion of the wrapping of the periphery of the package by the movement of the retractable head into its advanced position, and means whereby the clamping Patented Dec. 13, 1966 device is caused to grip the new free end of the web of wrapping material.

The end portion of the web of wrapping material released from the clamping device may conveniently be wrapped around the package by means of a folder member which is advanced from the neighbourhood of the clamping device. The length of such end portion of the web is preferably such that its free end will be overlapped by the other end of the portion of wrapping material severed from the web by the action of the cutting device. A sealing device is preferably provided for securing together the overlapping ends of the wrapping material when the web is severed by the cutting device, and the cutting and sealing devices may conveniently be housed Within the retractable head.

Although other arrangements may be used, it will often be convenient for the package to fall under the action of gravity into the wrapping position and to be held in such position by a stop device with the uppermost part of its periphery lying clear of the path of movement of the retractable head. In one convenient arrangement the retractable head normally occupies its advanced position and thereby arrests the movement of the package to the wrapping position, whereupon the driving device is operated to move the retractable head to its withdrawn position thereby permitting the package to fall into the wrapping position.

As has been mentioned, the invention is especially advantageous when the package is in the form of a roll, and an inclined ramp is preferably provided down which the roll is fed to the wrapping position. The machine may be arranged to be capable of handling rolls of diiferent diameters within a predetermined range, the stop device for holding the roll in the wrapping position being adjustable in height, in accordance with the diameter of the individual roll to be wrapped, from a normal position into an operative position in which it holds the roll with the uppermost point of its periphery at a constant level. It will usually be convenient for the stop device normally to occupy a position suited to the smallest roll diameter within the predetermined range. The arrangement is preferably such that, in all operative positions of adjustment of the stop device, the roll axis lies in a fixed vertical plane, the inclined ramp being adjustable laterally to suit the roll diameter, and the withdrawn position of the retractable head likewise being adjustable to suit the roll diameter.

The invention may be carried into practice in various Ways, and some convenient alternative arrangements of wrapping machine according thereto are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 illustrates diagrammatically a construction for the wrapping of rolls, which may have any diameter within a predetermined range,

FIGURES 2 and 3 indicate different operative positions of the parts in the construction of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 illustrates an arrangement incorporating various modifications of the construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram illustrating the use of edge guides when laminated wrapping material is used,

FIGURES 6 and 7 respectively illustrate diagrammatically two alternative constructions for the wrapping of rolls, and

FIGURES 8-10 respectively illustrate diagrammatically three constructions for the wrapping of packages of rectangular cross-section.

The construction of FIGURE 1 is intended for wrapping paper or other wrapping material around the pe' ripheral surface of a roll, the wrapping machine being capable of dealing with rolls having any diameter within a predetermined range (for example from four to ten inches). These dimensions are given by way of example only as typical of a machine for dealing with relatively large rolls, but it will be clear that a machine of similar construction can be used for dealing with a corresponding range of smaller diameters, or, if desired, with a range of still larger diameters.

In this construction, the main parts of the machine comprise an inclined ramp down which the roll to be wrapped rolls to a gauging position; a retractable head normally occupying a position with its front wall adjacent to the lower end of the ramp and acting to arrest the roll in the gauging position; a gauging device for measuring the diameter of the roll; a supply reel from which a web of paper or other wrapping material is drawn over the retractable head; a clamping device lo cated beneath the lower end of the ramp for gripping the free end of the web of Wrapping material; and a stop member adjustable under the control of the gauging device in accordance with the roll diameter for locating the roll in a wrapping position beneath the normal position of the retractable head.

Thus, the incoming roll A runs down the inclined ramp B-B into engagement with the front face of the retractable head C, and in doing so operates a trip device (not shown) for bringing the gauging device into operation. The dotted circles A and A respectively indicate the smallest and the largest diameters in the predetermined range.

The gauging device consists of a sensing plate D, which lies parallel to the inclined ramp BB and is movable by means of a pneumatic ram D in a direction at right angles thereto, so as to engage with the surface of the roll A and thus to measure the diameter of the roll, The gauging device actuates a pneumatic control device D which when the gauging operation has been effected, controls the setting of various parts of the machine in accordance with the roll diameter. The pneumatic control device may be of any of the known types capable of effecting pneumatic control in accordance with the extent of movement of an actuating element.

The inclined ramp is formed in two parts BB the lower part B being movable along fixed guide rails B in a direction parallel to the inclination of the ramp so as to slide past the fixed upper part B A gap is left between the movable and fixed parts of the inclined ramp, which is small enough to permit the smallest size roll to pass over it, thus shortening the total length of the ramp, and in some instances the relationship between the smallest and largest roll diameters in the range may be such that this gap can be made sufficient to take the full movement of the lower part of the ramp, thus permitting the two parts of the ramp to lie in the same plane. A vertical wall B extends downwardly from beneath the lower edge of the ramp B and is movable therewith. This vertical wall B normally lies in a position in which its horizontal distance from a vertical fixed datum line B is equal to half the smallest diameter in the range of roll diameters with which the machine can deal, and the movement of the lower part B of the ramp is effected by a pneumatic ram B controlled by the pneumatic control device D so that in its operative position, the vertical wall B will be horizontally spaced from the fixed datum line B by a distance equal to half the actual roll diam,- eter. The inclination of the ramp to the horizontal should, as will be explained later, be approximately equal to 30 degrees.

The same pneumatic ram also acts through suitable mechanism (or alternatively, as shown, a separate pneumatic ram also controlled by the pneumatic control device D to position the stop member P, so that it will lie at a distance equal to the roll diameter beneath a horizontal fixed datum line E so that when the roll reaches the wrapping position, its position (determined by the stop member F and the vertical wall B will be such that the top of the roll will always coincide with the fixed datum line E whatever diameter the roll may have.

The clamping device GG is located just beneath the lower edge of the inclined ramp and is carried by the movable lower part B thereof. This clamping device consists of a clamping face G inclined more steeply to the horizontal than the ramp itself, and a moving member G in the form of an arm having a shaped end which engages with the clamping face G with a wedging action to grip the free end of the web of wrapping material. The clamping arm G is operated by a pneumatic cylinder G carried by the ramp B. The wedging action can be obtained in various ways, but in the example illustrated the clamping arm G is suspended from the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder G and abuts against a small circular stud G carried by the ramp B.

The retractable head C normally occupies a position adjacent to the lower edge of the ramp B, so that its front wall acts as a stop to hold the roll A in the gauging position on the lower end of the ramp, and is movable horizontally away from the ramp under the control of a pneumatic cylinder C The base of the retractable head C lies slightly above the fixed datum line E The web H of wrapping material passes from the clamping device G-G between the edge of the ramp B and the front wall of the retractable head C, and thence over the top of the retractable head past a guide roller C carried by the head and fixed guide rollers H H H and a compensating roller H to the supply reel H from which the wrapping material is drawn. The compensating roller H is suspended in a loop of the web of wrapping material and serves to take up the slack in the web when the retractable head C is withdrawn.

The pneumatic cylinder C for controlling the movement of the retractable head C is operated by a suitable trip device, when the lower part B of the inclined ramp and the stop member E have been properly set in their operative positions in accordance with the roll diameter by the pneumatic control device D This causes the head C to be withdrawn away from the ramp B to permit the roll to move forward from the gauging position towards the wrapping position. As the head C moves away from the ramp, the wrapping material H is stretched across the path of the roll A, so that the roll falls against the web and carries it with it in its movement towards the wrapping position. The movement of the retractable head C is stopped and reversed by the engagement of a projection C on the head with a trip device C which controls the operation of the pneumatic cylinder C and whose position is also set by a pneumatic ram C controlled by the pneumatic control device D in accordance with the roll diameter, so that the front face of the head C when the withdrawing movement ceases is at a horizontal distance from the vertical fixed datum line E equal to half the roll diameter, thus freeing the roll A to fall into the wrapping position, with its top located at the horizontal fixed datum line B In this position (shown in FIGURE 2) the web H of wrapping material extends down from the clamping device G-G along the vertical Wall B and thence around the lower half of the roll periphery and up over the front face of the retractable head C, thus completing the wrapping of the lower half of the periphery of the roll A.

The trip device C which stops and reverses the retractable head C, also causes the pneumatic cylinder G which controls the clamping device GG to release the clamp and at the same time operates another fixed pneumatic cylinder 1 to cause simultaneous longitudinal movement of two folder fingers J, so that such fingers move through slots B in the vertical wall B and engage with the released end of the web of wrapping material and wrap it round part of the upper portion of the periphery of the roll A. The two folder fingers I may, if desired, be connected together by a folder bar engaging with the wrapping material over the whole width of the web. Each folder finger I carries one end of a springy strip 3' the other end of which is coiled into the form of a spiral spring J carried by the vertical wall B these strips acting to assist in folding the wrapping material closely against the surface of the roll A and also to minimize risk of the wrapping material being dragged off the roll surface when the folder fingers J are withdrawn.

It is important to ensure that the free edge of the wrapping material H will lie at or close to the vertical fixed datum line E, so that the operative position of the clamping device GG at the time of release should be at a vertical distance approximately equal to 7rR/2 above the horizontal plane through the roll axis, where R is the radius of the roll A, that is (1r/2-1)R above the horizontal fixed datum line E, for all roll diameters. This is ensured by arranging that the plane of the inclined ramp B (which passes very close to the clamping device) passes approximately through the junction of the two fixed datum lines E-E and that the clamping device G-G moves in the direction of such plane, the necessary inclination of the ramp to the horizontal being approximately equal to the angle whose tangent is (1r/2l), such angle in fact being very slightly less than 30 degrees.

While the folder fingers I have been wrapping the free end of the web of wrapping material over the roll A, the retractable head C has been moving towards its normal position and, in doing so, has been wrapping the web of wrapping material over the remainder of the upper part of the roll periphery, so that finally it overlaps the free edge of the wrapping material and grips such edge tightly against the roll surface. When the head has completed its return movement, (as shown in FIGURE 3), the folder fingers J are withdrawn by their actuating pneumatic cylinder J and a cutting device and a sealing device, which are housed within the interior of the retractable head C, are brought into action to sever the web of wrapping material and to apply adhesive tape along the overlapping edges to seal the wrapping in position. The adhesive on the tape may be of the type requiring wetting or alternatively may be of the self-adhesive type applied by pressure. If the wrapping material consists of thermoplastic material, it will sometimes be preferable to effect such sealing by the application of heat along the overlapping edges, instead of using adhesive tape. The sealing can also be effected, if desired, by applying an adhesive to the free edge of the web of wrapping material after this has been wrapped by the folder fingers around the roll surface and prior to the return movement of the retractable head, so that such return movement will itself complete the sealing by pressing the wrapping material tightly against the adhesive, after which the cutting is proceeded with.

In the example illustrated in FIGURE 1, the cutting device consists of a guillotine K operated by a pneumatic cylinder K mounted within the retractable head C. The sealing device comprises a reel K of adhesive tape, of width similar to that of the web of wrapping material, a wedge cam K operated by a pneumatic cylinder K for feeding forward a predetermined short length of tape from the reel and holding it clamped when fed forward, and a pivoted actuating plate K also extending for the full width of the web. This actuating plate K is moved forward, as soon as the retractable head C has completed its return movement to the advanced position, by a pneumatic cylinder K and is meanwhile held in position on the piston rod of such cylinder by a small auxiliary pneumatic cylinder K pivoted to such piston rod. During this movement, the actuating plate K severs the adhesive tape against a reaction plate K the severed portion of tape being held to the plate K by pneumatic suction device, part of the suction pipe being indicated at K The forward movement of the actuating plate continues until the roll A is engaged, the pneumatic force acting on the plate thus serving to hold the web of wrapping material tightly against the roll. At this stage, the guillotine K is advanced to sever the web and is withdrawn again, after which the auxiliary pneumatic cylinder K 6. is operated to swing the actuating plate K about its pivot and thus to press the adhesive tape firmly into engagement over the overlapping edges of the web around the roll, the suction holding the tape to the plate being released. The actuating plate is then swung back and returned to its normal position, in readiness for further actuation of the wedge cam K to feed forward another length of tape. It is assumed, in this description, that the adhesive on the tape is of the self-adhesive type applied by pressure, but if it is preferred to employ an adhesive requiring wetting, a movable wetting device may be incorporated to wet the tape during the forward movement of the actuating plate.

It is to be noted that the return movement of the retractable head draws further material from the supply reel, in readiness for the wrapping of the next roll, and the fact that the web is in tension ensures a tight grip of the wrapping material on the surface of the roll and on the free edge of the web which it overlaps. In order to prevent the compensating roller from pulling the web back when it has been severed by the cutting device, it is desirable to provide a clamp H for clamping the web, for example to the top of the retractable head, as shown. Alternatively, this clamp may be located between the two fixed guide rollers H H (as in the modified arrangement shown in FIGURE 4, to be described below). This clamp H is operated pneumatically simultaneously with or shortly prior to the operation of the cutting device, and is subsequently released when the clamping device G-G beneath the ramp B has been operated to grip the new free end of the web.

The shape of the lower part of the front wall of the retractable head is made such that it will direct the severed end of the web of wrapping material towards the clamping device beneath the inclined ramp. Thus, the front wall of the head has a reentrant portion C into which the lower end of the inclined ramp B projects, when the parts are in their normal positions, so that the severed free end of the web will be in a position in which it will be picked up and tightly gripped by the clamping device GG when such device is operated, after resetting of the parts controlled by the gauging device D back to their normal positions, in readiness for the wrapping of g the next roll.

It will be appreciated that the amount of wrapping material held in the clamping device G-G (in conjunction with the height of the clamping device above the fixed datum line E will determine the amount of overlap between the two free edges of the material on the wrapped roll. In the interests of economy in wrapping material, it is desirable to reduce the amount of overlap to a minimum, but the desirable minimum differs for different types of wrapping material, and it is useful therefore to provide an adjustment for determining the amount of overlap in a particular case. This can most easily be effected by controlling the amount of wrapping material which is gripped in the clamping device G-G This is achieved, in the manner shown in FIGURE 4, by providing between the two fixed guide roller H and H not only the clamp H above mentioned, but also an adjustable feed-back device comprising a movable roller L, which engages with the web H between two fixed rollers L L and is moved between such fixed rollers to produce a loop in the web. This movable roller L is carried on a crank lever L actuated by a pneumatic cylinder L after the web H has been severed by the cutting device K, so as to feed the web back and thus shorten the severed end portion of the web beyond the lower edge of the front wall of the retractable head C. The amount of feed-back is regulated by an adjusting crew L to suit the desired amount of overlap.

FIGURE 4 also serves to illustrate some other mod ifications of the construction of FIGURE 1. Thus, with certain types of wrapping material, it is found that there is a tendency for the end portion of the web to bow out slightly over the front face of the retractable head C, after the feed-back and before the end of the web has been gripped by the clamping device GG as indicated by the dotted line L This can be prevented by the provision of two rollers L respectively carried on arms L pivoted to brackets C upstanding from the side edges of the retractable head C. These rollers L are urged by springs L towards the front face of the head C, and are spaced apart sufficiently to avoid risk of fouling the feed of the rolls down the ramp B into the gauging position, the rollers projecting inwardly from the arms L so as to engage with the edge portions of the web which project beyond the ends of the rolls themselves.

It is usually desirable to ensure a very tight enclosure of the roll by the wrapping material, and an increase in the tension of the web prior to cutting and sealing can be obtained, if desired, by operating the clamp H slightly before the retractable head C reache its fully advanced position. This can be achieved by the use of a sensitive pneumatic valve L which is so positioned as to be operated by the projection C on the head just before the completion of the movement of the head C, this valve L controlling the operation of the clamp H Whilst a high degree of tension is desirable, it has been found that some degree of variation of tension is required in accordance with the diameter of the roll, for the tension must be small enough to ensure that the relatively lightweight rolls of small diameter can overcome it in their passage into the wrapping position, whilst it must also be large enough to prevent the heavy large-diameter rolls from falling too quickly into the wrapping position with risk of a loose wrap. This difficulty can be overcome by two crank levers M pivoted to the upstanding brackets C at the side edges of the retractable head, one arm of each of the crank levers M being controlled by a tension spring M having a fixed anchorage M whilst the other arms of the leavers M are connected together by a bar M which extends across the web and is lined with felt or other suitable padding. Thus, since the extent of movement of the retractable head from the advanced position into the withdrawn position is greater with the larger sizes of roll thanwith the smaller sizes, the springs M will be more extended in the case of large rolls and will thus urge the padded bar M more tightly into engagement with the web, thus giving the desired increase in tension for the larger sizes of roll.

As mentioned above, the wrapping machine is more especially intended for the complete enclosure of the roll by first wrapping its peripheral surface within a tube of wrapping material projecting beyond the ends of the roll and thereafter folding the projecting ends of such tube against the ends of the roll. It i found with some forms of wrapping material that there is a tendency to tear at the edges of the roll where such folding is effected, and it is desirable therefore, when such wrapping material is used to provide reinforcement at such edges. One way of effecting this is also illustrated in FIGURE 4, the reinforcement consisting of two strips of adhesive tape which are stuck to the web in positions which will overlap the end edges of the roll. For this purpose, an extra fixed guide roller H is provided between the supply reel H and the guide roller H and two reels H of adhesive tape are mounted in the appropriate positions, the tape from these reels being led past a wetting device H and thence over the guide roller H so that it is caused to adhere to the web. In the arrangement illustrated this tape reinforcement is stuck to the underside of the web, but it will be appreciated that it could be stuck to the outer surface of the web if preferred.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram indicating the use of edge guides on the retractable head C for centering layers of wrapping material when it is desired to use a laminated wrapping, the two webs to be laminated together in the wrapping being of different widths, as will often be desirable to facilitate wrapping of the ends of the roll. The

guides at one edge only are shown, but it will be appreciated that similar guides are provided at the other edge. The two layers N, N together forming the laminated wrapping are centered by means of edge guides in the form of flat plates N N of the same thickness as the wrapping layers, these edge guides being interleaved with thin plates N N N overlapping the edges of the wrapping layers, the complete assembly of plates being secured to the retractable head itself. The thicknesses of the layers and plates are exaggerated in the drawing to show the arrangement more clearly.

The constructions above described deal with the wrapping of the peripheral surface of the roll, by forming the wrapping material into the form of a tube closely surrounding the roll. The further stage of closing the ends of the roll, if required at all, may be effected in the same machine or in a separate machine, but for the purpose of this further stage it is preferable to arrange that the ends of the tube of wrapping material project beyond the ends of the roll, so that they can be folded over against the ends of the roll and sealed in position by means of an adhesive disc. Such end closure may be effected in various ways, but it is preferred to utilise for this purpose the inventions forming the subject of the present applicants copending United States patent applications Serial Nos. 260,580 and 271,227.

It is not essential to the invention to provide a gauging device within the machine and a hand control may be provided instead to set the various parts to the positions suited to the diameter of the individual roll to be wrapped. Further, the invention can be advantageously applied to a simpler form of machine for dealing only with a standard diameter of roll, the machine being arranged as above described, except that the parts adjustable to suit the diameter of roll are now fixed in the positions suited to the standard roll diameter. In such case, also, the arrangement may be modified so that the retractable head normally occupies its withdrawn position and does not arrest the roll in its passage to the wrapping position, the web of wrapping material being drawn across the path of the roll prior to the introduction of the roll either by the withdrawing movement of the retractable head following clamping of the free end of the web or by advancing the clamping device to grip the free end of the web when the retractable head has returned to the withdrawn position and returning the clamping device to its operative position before the roll is admitted.

Whilst' it is usually preferable to effect the withdrawing movement of the retractable head in the horizontal direction, this is not essential to the invention and FIG- URES 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate by way of variants two arrangements respectively in which the movements of the head take place vertically and in which such 'movements are constrained by a parallel link mechanism.

Thus, in the arrangement of FIGURE 6, the head is retractable vertically and normally occupies its upper withdrawn position, in which it affords clearance above the inclined ramp B for the passage of a roll, in this case assumed to be of standard diameter. The head is raised and lowered by means of a pair of simultaneously operated pneumatic cylinders C C The lower portion of the front face of the head is vertical, and a modified form of clamping device is used consisting of a clamping face 0 beneath the lower edge of the ram B and a movable clamping arm 0 operated by a pneumatic cylinder 0 the shape of the clamping arm 0 being such that it can pick' up and grip the free end of the web extending vertically downwards from the front face of the retractable head. The roll A when fed forward down the ramp B engages with the web H and carries it with it into the wrapping position, in which it is held between the vertical wall B and a fixed inclined stop member F The wrapping of the peripheral surface of the roll is completed by operation of the folder fingers J on the free end of the web released by the clamp and by the lowering of the head C into its advanced or lower position, after which the cutting and sealing action takes place as before. The compensating roller H is provided as before and serves in this case also to take up the slack in the web due to the lowering movement of the head.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 7, the head C is carried on a pair of parallel links PP and the pneumatic cylinder C foreifecting the withdrawal and advance of the head is in this case mounted on a pivot with its piston rod pivoted to the head. In other respects, this arrangement can be generally similar to the constructions above described.

In the foregoing description the invention has been applied to the wrapping of a roll of circular cross-section, but the invention is also applicable to the wrapping of packages of other cross-section, and an alternative arrangement for wrapping a package of rectangular crosssection of standard size will now be described, with reference to FIGURE 8.

In such arrangement, the package Q is fed forward, either alone or as one of a row of similar packages to be wrapped in turn, down an inclined ramp R of suitable inclination or along a horizontal feed track. The retractable head S moves in a direction parallel to the ramp R or feed track and normally occupies its withdrawn position, thus permitting the package to be fed along the ramp or feed track on to a platform R across which the web of wrapping material is stretched, the free end of the Web being gripped by a clamping device diagrammatically indicated at S beneath the inclined ramp R or feed track. This platform R is then lowered, in a direction at right angles to the inclined ramp R or feed track, to bring the package Q into the wrapping position carrying the wrapping material with it. If the package is the front one of a row of packages, the next package Q in the row is clamped at Q to the ramp or feed track when the front package Q has been moved on to the platform R In order to prevent the web of wrapping material from being drawn past the bottom corners of the package during lowering of the package into the wrapping position, the clamping device S for gripping the free end of the web is mounted to move towards the package Q along the underside of the inclined ramp R or feed track from a suitable initial position at the same speed as the downward movement of the package Q. At this stage, the web passes from the clamping device S over a folder bar R adjacent to the side face of the moving package Q and thence under the package and up along the other side face thereof and over the end face of the retractable head S and past guide rollers to the supply reel. Thus, when the package Q comes to rest in the wrapping position, the wrapping material will have been wrapped closely around the two side faces and the bottom face of the package.

The clamping device S which has likewise come to rest, is then released and the folder bar S is advanced to wrap the released end portion of the web against part of the top face of the package, and the retractable head S is moved forward again to its advanced position to complete the wrapping of such top face. The web is then severed by a cutting device in a position to allow a suitable overlap between the ends of the web around the package, and such overlapping ends are sealed together, the folder bar S meanwhile being withdrawn. The shapes of the parts are such as to deflect the new free end of the severed web towards the clamping device S which grips such free end prior to the withdrawal of the retractable head S and is then withdrawn to its initial position in readiness for the wrapping of the next package, the platform R likewise being returned to its initial position, after having discharged the wrapped package.

This arrangement may be modified (as shown in FIG- URE 9) to effect the wrapping of the end portion of the web of wrapping material released by the clamping device S by moving the package Q itself laterally from the wrapping position for a short distance beneath the clamping device S The extent of such lateral movement should be suflicient to cause the released end portion of the web to be wrapped over the top surface of the package, but must yet be small enough to ensure that the free end of such released portion will be overlapped by the remaining portion of the web which is wrapped over the top surface of the package by the movement of the retractable head S into its advanced position.

Alternatively, in a further modification (shown in FIGURE 10), the inclined ramp R or horizontal feed track is mounted to be adjustable in a direction at right angles to its length, such ramp or feed track normally occupying a lower position in which the package Q can be fed along it directly into the wrapping position. At this stage the wrapping material extends from the clampping device S across the bottom of the package Q and up the far side thereof to the retractable head S, the near side of the package then being wrapped by raising the ramp R or feed track and the clamping device S carried beneath it, after which the web is released from the clamping device S and the released end portion is wrapped against the top surface of the package by advancing a folder bar S from beneath the clamping device S The wrapping is completed, as before, by moving the retractable head S into its advanced position so that the portion of the Web of wrapping material carried by it overlaps the free end of the web, and by cutting the web and sealing together the overlapping ends therefrom, whereafter the new free end of the web is gripped by the clamping device S and, after delivery of the wrapped package from the wrapping position, the various parts are returned to their normal positions in readiness for wrapping a new package.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing arrangements have been described by way of example only and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention. Thus, for instance, although the control device has been described as a pneumatic control device, it will be clear that the desired control may alternatively be effected hydraulically or electrically or mechanically, if desired.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wrapping machine for enclosing a package in Wrapping material, including in combination, guide means defining a feed path along which the package can move to a wrapping position, a retractable head controlling the feeding of the wrapping material and having an advanced position and a withdrawn position, driving means for moving the retractable head from either of such positions to the other, means whereby the wrapping material is caused to extend from one side of the feed path to the other when the retractable head is in the withdrawn position, whereby the movement of the package into the wrapping position causes the wrapping material to be wrapped around a portion of its periphery, means whereby when the package is in the wrapping position the driving means is caused to move the retractable head from its withdrawn position into its advanced position thereby wrapping the wrapping material around a further portion of the periphery of the package, .a supply reel from which a web of wrapping material is drawn by movement of the retractable head from its withdrawn position into its advanced position, a clamping device for gripping the free end of the Web located on the side of the feed path remote from the withdrawn position of the retractable head, means for releasing the clamping device when the package is in the wrapping position prior to the completion of the movement of the retractable head into the advanced position, means for wrapping the released free end portion of the Web of wrapping material around a portion of the periphery of the package, a cutting device for severing the web of wrapping material after completion of the wrapping of the periphery of the package by the movement of the retractable head into its advanced position, and means whereby the clamping device is caused to grip the new free end of the web of wrapping material.

2. A Wrapping machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for wrapping the released free end portion of the web of wrapping material comprises at least one folder member located adjacent to the clamping device, and means for advancing such folder member towards the package.

3. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the relative positioning of the parts is such that the length of the end portion of the web of wrapping material released from the clamping device is such that its free end will be overlapped by the other end of the portion of wrapping material severed from the web by the cutting device.

4. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 3, including a sealing device for securing together the overlapping ends of the wrapping material when the Web is severed by the cutting device.

5. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 4, including means for mounting the cutting and sealing devices within the retractable head.

6. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 1, including a sealing device for securing together the ends of the severed portion of wrapping material around the package, and means for mounting the cutting and sealing devices within the retractable head.

7. A wrapping machine for enclosing in wrapping material a package in the form of a roll of generally cylindrical shape, said machine including in combination guide means defining a feed path along which the package can move to a wrapping position, a retractable head controlling the feeding of the wrapping material and having an advanced position and a withdrawn position, driving means for moving the retractable head from either of such positions to the other, means whereby the wrapping material is caused to extend from one side of the feed path to the other when the retractable head is in the withdrawn position, whereby the movement of the package into the wrapping position causes the wrapping material to be wrapped around a portion of its periphery, means whereby when the package is in the wrapping position the driving means is caused to move the retractable head from its withdrawn position into its advanced position thereby wrapping the wrapping material around a further portion of the periphery of the package, an inclined ramp which constitutes the guide means defining the path down which the roll runs under the action of gravity toward the wrapping position, a supply reel from which a web of wrapping material is drawn by movement of the retractable head from it withdrawn position into its advanced position, a clamping device located beneath the lower portion of the inclined ramp for gripping the free end of the web, and means whereby the retractable head normally occupies its advanced position and thereby arrests the roll on the lower portion of the inclined ramp, whereby operation of the driving means to withdraw the retractable head away from the inclined ramp causes the head to draw the wrapping material across 12 the path of the roll and to allow the roll to fall into the wrapping position carrying the wrapping material with it.

8. A wrapping machine for enclosing a package in wrapping material, including in combination, guide means defining a feed path along which the package can move to a wrapping position, a retractable head controlling the feeding of the wrapping material and having an advanced position and a withdrawn position, driving means for moving the retractable head from either of such positions to the other, means whereby the wrapping material is caused to extend from one side of the feed path to the other when the retract-able head is in the Withdrawn position, whereby the movement of the package into the wrapping position causes the wrapping material to be wrapped around a portion of its periphery, means whereby when the package is in the wrapping position the driving means is caused to move the retractable head from its Withdrawn position into its advanced position thereby Wrapping the wrapping material around a further portion of the periphery of the package, said machine being capable of wrapping rolls of generally cylindrical shape of different diameters within a predetermined range, and including an inclined ramp which constitutes the guide means defining the feed path and down which the roll to be wrapped runs under the action of gravity towards the wrapping position, an adjustable stop device for arresting the roll in the wrapping position, and means for adjusting the stop device in accordance with the diameter of the roll to be wrapped into an operative position in which it holds the roll with the uppermost part of its periphery at a constant level clear of the path of the retractable head.

9. A wrapping machine as claimed in claim 8, including means whereby in all operative positions of the stop device the roll axis is caused to lie in a fixed vertical plane, means for adjusting the inclined ramp laterally to suit the diameter of the roll to be wrapped, and means for adjusting the withdrawn position of the retractable head to suit the roll diameter.

10. A Wrapping machine as claimed in claim 1, including means for arresting the roll to be wrapped in a gauging position prior to its movement into the wrapping position, a gauging device for measuring the diameter of the roll in the gauging position, means whereby such gauging device controls the adjusting means for the stop device, and means for releasing the roll from the gauging position when the adjustment of the machine to suit the roll diameter has been effected.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,543,323 2/1951 Marsh 53-198 X 2,581,724 1/1952 Sloan 53198 3,014,322 12/1961 'Polster 53198 3,045,402 7/1962 Keely et al 53-137 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

L. SyBOUCHARD, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A WRAPPING MACHINE FOR ENCLOSING A PACKAGE IN WRAPPING MATERIAL, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, GUIDE MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH ALONG WHICH THE PACKAGE CAN MOVE TO A WRAPPING POSITION, A RETRACTABLE HEAD CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF THE WRAPPING MATERIAL AND HAVING AN ADVANCED POSITION AND A WITHDRAWN POSITION, DRIVING MEANS FOR MOVING THE RETRACTABLE HEAD FROM EITHER OF SUCH POSITIONS TO THE OTHER, MEANS WHEREBY THE WRAPPING MATERIAL IS CAUSED TO EXTEND FROM ONE SIDE OF THE FEED PATH TO THE OTHER WHEN THE RETRACTABLE HEAD IS IN THE WITHDRAWN POSITION, WHEREBY THE MOVEMENT OF THE PACKAGE INTO THE WRAPPING POSITION CAUSES THE WRAPPING MATERIAL TO BE WRAPPED AROUND A PORTION OF ITS PERIPHERY, MEANS WHEREBY WHEN THE PACKAGE IS IN THE WRAPPING POSITION THE DRIVING MEANS IS CAUSED TO MOVE THE RETRACTABLE HEAD FROM ITS WITHDRAWN POSITION INTO ITS ADVANCED POSITION THEREBY WRAPPING THE WRAPPING MATERIAL AROUND A FURTHER PORTION OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE PACKAGE, A SUPPLY REEL FROM WHICH A WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL IS DRAWN BY MOVEMENT OF THE RETRACTABLE HEAD FROM ITS WITHDRAWN POSTION INTO ITS ADVANCED POSITION, A CLAMPING DEVICE FOR GRIPPING THE FREE END OF THE WEB LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE FEED PATH REMOTE FROM THE WITHDRAWN POSITION OF THE RETRACTABLE HEAD, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE CLAMPING DEVICE WHEN THE PACKAGE IS IN THE WRAPPING POSITION PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE RETRACTABLE HEAD INTO THE ADVANCED POSITION, MEANS FOR WRAPPING THE RELEASED FREE END PORTION OF THE WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL AROUND A PORTION OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE PACKAGE, A CUTTING DEVICE FOR SEVERING THE WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL AFTER COMPLETION OF THE WRAPPING OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE PACKAGE BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE RETRACTABLE HEAD INTO ITS ADVANCED POSITION, AND MEANS WHEREBY THE CLAMPING DEVICE IS CAUSED TO GRIP THE NEW FREE END OF THE WEB OF WRAPPING MATERIAL. 